The way we have gone about handling the contracts and not screwed ourselves like ManUtd, the way we have got the right players for the ones who left us for some reason or other and the way we didn’t offer more than what was right for the players at that time who then moved on and didn’t become world beaters in the past decade makes me really comfortable in trusting the club in what it’s doing.
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There was a recent article at The Athletic detailing how Hughes has to work within budgetary constraints set by the club’s finances. That’s all there is to it. If the players decide to leave for money or whatever other reason, that’s their right and decision, but it’s not the club’s fault. It’s not as if the offered terms aren’t lucrative and that they’ll go broke.
Unless we don’t want to be a self-sustained club that is, but another plaything for the obscenely rich.
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I read this today, and maybe I am just trying to get my excuses in early and convince myself that losing him will be ok, but this seems completely off base
He was shackled by a 22 year old playing on the wrong side and who isnt particularly known for his defensive prowess. Given the size of Mo’s contribution this year and his contract situation, the question of how to get others to carry more weight is a critical one. But it wasnt the one I was left asking yesterday. Surely the more relevant one posed by that performance is how much should the boat be pushed out of a player who can be so straight forwardly neutralized.
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Salah’s physical levels are certainly dropping, notwithstanding his ridiculous output but I wouldn’t be drawing conclusions from this one and the PSG games. The guy is fasting, it must be insanely difficult to perform without nourishment, especially in high-tension matches.
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Of course, never make conclusions on one game. But I don’t think this being down to Ramadan is much of a comfort unless he stops observing it or modifies his approach to it (as is sometimes allowed for athletes) if this is the affect it is now having on him at this age. It is a month of every year that tends to include lots of games and, given the time of the year, often crucial ones.
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Although, for all intents and purposes for this conversation, correct. Ramadan follows a lunar calendar, so next year, Ramadan will be 18 February to 19 March. It moves forward approximately a month every year, which is why it shouldn’t have affected him in our peak years (but COVID intervened for that). We can probably expect it to hit in January to February in 2027, which is another vital year, of course.
For 2026 though, it comes a month after AFCON takes him out, which is also therefore a really important question as to the value to the club of a new contract for him.
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Some interresting ideas from WhoScored.
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Assuming Arne rates him, I ike the sound of Read.
Ah, yes, the audiobooks. I wasn’t a fan until about two months ago - I didn’t know what I was missing.
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Salah’s fasting isn’t the reason for his lack of performances the last 5 games etc. Too much of football is the more likely culprit.
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Salah has so much credit in the bank that he’s allowed a little spell of iffy form. Still, at that point, it does not follow that he should be on the pitch until the very end. We have a good pool of strikers, and subbing Mo out on the 70 min mark should be one of the tools Slot uses.
Since it is the contract thread I’ve resigned myself to all three going. It might be a bit of copium on my part, and if there’s a pleasant surprise I will take it. But I honestly think a chunk of the side is getting ripped up and refreshed, as Slot shapes it.
Some of it will be forced on us, due to age, expiring contracts, and players choosing to go. Another portion of it will be moves we make, to let people go. I fully expect a bit of both, with at least 5 out, and probably 5 in.
Strange thing to say, as we will be the new champions as we do all that, but I think that’s what is coming.
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I thought it was just a succession of LBs having great games 
Allowed in what context though? Free from scathing criticism? Probably. Ignored when evaluating how much it makes sense to throw his way to stay for next year and how many additional years after that? Almost certainly not. Unfortunately Salah is now at an age that any run of two bad games in a row will pose very reasonable questions about its just father time having finally caught him.
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Allowed in the context of his whole season. He has been really good, and has put up exceptional numbers, and now that he’s had a few iffy games, it’s understandable.
With regard to contract renewal, it’s definitely not a blank check we should offer. His physical level is diminishing, and while it won’t completely drop in one fell swoop, it is very unlikely we will see this sort of output from him moving forward. Stylistically, Slot might also want a faster winger to get behind them, which Mo is doing less and less of these days.
Obviously he cuts inside on his left, and that’s the main move, but it would be nice if he could go both ways, and that would certainly be harder for the defender. But physically, his top end pace is not seeing him blow past defenders any more. Yes, some still, but mostly not.
His age, likely future output, availability with AFCON, and salary demands, should all be weighed carefully. If he ends up leaving in summer I can live with it, as whether it is now, or in the not-too-distant future, given his age it is coming.
If he stays on a sensible wage - still high, but not ruinous for us, I will look forward to his likely 20 goals, but I’d like to see a clear plan for a new winger emerging too.
Players are human, they have poor performances or spells. Tell me one guy who has been on it all season?
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Exactly. In the context of the whole season, Mo has been great, and so he is more than allowed a little iffy spell.
Trent is apparently gone and I think Mo is showing why he hasn’t been offered the contract he (reasonably) thinks he deserves. Even Virg played poorly but I still think it is vital we keep him for another couple of years. But yes I think the opportunity for Arne to create a new side is exciting and given we have, midfield aside, been quiet for a couple of years, I think it is now time for some significant revamping.
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We might not be relying on wingers for the goals of Salah leaves. The goals should continue to flow.
I’m really not that bothered about the inevitable. The two will leave , if not now , maybe 2 seasons down the line.
When a special player, with the common-sense he portrays, twenty years ago, VVD would have been given a new contract just to keep him at the club to move into a coaching role at least, no matter how wobbly his legs had become. These days, when a player still has a bit of gas left in his tank, it becomes a real issue for the player himself, to turn down the vast amounts of money on offer from other countries… that can be earned every 12months.
I mean, why stay in the footballing fishbowl, when you have so much money already banked… and you can go and live the life most can only dream of… The players loyalty should be to his family first and foremost, we as fans should come further down the pecking order
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Exactly my sentiments. VVD and Mo shouldn’t be blamed for putting family first.
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